---
title: "Chow and Bradford join food bank Thanksgiving sort as visits hit record"
description: "Both Toronto mayoral candidates joined Premier Doug Ford and more than 200 volunteers at the Daily Bread Food Bank's annual Thanksgiving food sort on October 10."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/news/chow-bradford-daily-bread-food-bank-october-10"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T22:07:40.615Z"
---

Both Toronto mayoral candidates attended the Daily Bread Food Bank's annual Thanksgiving food sort on Saturday alongside Ontario Premier Doug Ford, where they continued trading public statements about who was responsible for the city's rising cost of living.

CP24 reported that [Olivia Chow](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/olivia-chow) and [Brad Bradford](/on/toronto-2026/candidates/brad-bradford) joined Doug Ford and more than 200 volunteers at the food sort, which started at 9 a.m. on October 10 and ran until 4 p.m.

## Record demand

Daily Bread says its network recorded more than 2.5 million client visits between January and August 2026, nearly four times the 664,876 visits recorded during the same months in 2020. The organization says about one in 10 Torontonians now regularly relies on a food bank, which it calls "record demand for food assistance."

"The holidays can be some of the most difficult times of year for families struggling to put food on the table," Daily Bread CEO Neil Hetherington said in a statement. "With one in 10 Torontonians now turning to food banks, the level of need in our city is unlike anything we have seen before."

Daily Bread set a $5-million fundraising target for its 2026 Thanksgiving drive. As of the event, the organization said it had raised $2.5 million and was aiming to collect 185,000 pounds of food.

## The two candidates at one event

Speaking to reporters at the event, Bradford argued that although the city cannot control grocery or fuel prices, it can affect other bills residents face. He said the nearly 20 per cent property tax increase over three years under Mayor Chow "makes the city less affordable." That figure is Bradford's campaign's characterization of the tax changes under the current administration.

Chow pushed back on Bradford's suggestion that she was "campaigning" at the food bank. She said she had volunteered at the Daily Bread Thanksgiving sort every year and that this was the first time she had seen him attend. She later said "that's not the point" and urged people not to "throw stones," according to CP24.

## What voters can do

Advance voting for the October 26 Toronto municipal election runs until October 11. You can see all mayoral candidates and their positions at [/on/toronto-2026/candidates#mayor](/on/toronto-2026/candidates#mayor). Residents can also donate food or money to Daily Bread through the organization's website; the food bank says it most needs high-protein foods such as nut butters and canned fish, canned fruits, canned vegetables and oatmeal.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/on/toronto-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.